Thermally isolated blood carrier tray

ABSTRACT

A Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray includes a main panel having a plurality of thermally isolated compartments attached thereto. The thermally isolated compartments are arranged in two separate matrices having a plurality of column and rows. Each thermally isolated compartment is thermally isolated from an adjacent thermally isolated compartment. Each thermally isolated compartment maintains its own heat transfer rate without being affected by an adjacent thermally isolated compartments heat transfer rate. The placement of several different storage units having different temperatures into the Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray does not affect the heat transfer rate of any one storage unit in a thermally isolated compartment. The Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray provides a steady and even heat transfer from the storage unit to bring the storage units to an appropriate temperature for storage or transportation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Utility Patent Application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/521,233 filed on Jun. 16,2017.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medical devices, and moreparticularly, but not exclusively, to blood temperature controlapparatuses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the United States, every two seconds that elapses a different personis in need of a blood transfusion. Blood cannot be artificiallymanufactured and can come only from human donations. As a result, over15.7 million blood donations are made per year. The donated blood iscollected, processed, and stored until required for use.

Donated blood is collected as whole blood, which consist of red bloodcells, platelets, plasma and cryoprecipitate. Whole blood may beprocessed, stored, and used as is, or it may be separated into itscomponent parts and then processed for storage and use. Afterprocessing, whole blood and red blood cells can be stored for up to 42days at between two (2) and six (6) degrees Celsius. Platelets must beused within five days of collection. Plasma and cryoprecipitate may bestored in a frozen state for up to one year after collection.

As donated blood or blood components are refrigerated for storage, newunits added to the cooler could potentially transfer their heat tonearby units as well as the cooled air, creating undesirableconsequences for the refrigeration and storage process. Such heattransfer between units may negatively affect the storage life of theblood or blood components.

Donated whole blood, or the components thereof, is delivered from bloodbanks to hospitals in its stored state. Whole blood is delivered with atemperature between two (2) and six (6) degrees Celsius and plasma andcryoprecipitate are delivered frozen with a temperature below negativetwenty (−20) degrees Celsius. For whole blood, cold blood may betransfused without any ill effect if administered at a slow rate.However, for rapid transfusions of a large volume of blood it isrecommended that the blood be brought to an appropriate temperature toavoid any complications, such as hypothermia. Whole blood should neverbe rapidly brought to temperature in a water bath, in hot towels, orclose to a heating device as this could lead to extensive hemolysis andserious transfusion reactions. The frozen plasma and cryoprecipitatemust be thawed before use. Frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate may bethawed using water baths, but must be monitored to ensure precisecontrol of the water temperature to ensure uniform thawing to avoiddamage.

Blood warmers are available to raise the temperature of whole blood toan appropriate temperature for use. Blood warmers are typically limitedto bringing to temperature a single unit of whole blood. The most commonblood warmers now in use are in-line warmers, which are not adequate forrapid-transfusions of a large volume of blood at a high rate. The use ofwater baths for thawing plasma and cryoprecipitate requires constantmonitoring as mentioned above. Additionally, the warming of multipleunits of plasma and cryoprecipitate into a single water bath affects theheat transfer rate of the individual units. The addition of new frozenplasma and/or cryoprecipitate units into an existing water bath withpartially thawed units will reduce the temperature of the water bath asthe water bath equilibrates to a steady state temperature. The resultinglower temperature of the water bath may then lower the temperature ofthe partially thawed units while simultaneously raising the temperatureof the frozen units. The use of a single water bath to thaw severalunits slows the overall heat transfer rate of each individual unit whencompared to using a single water bath for a single unit.

Although, as explained above, the rate of heating blood for rapid,large-volume transfusions is a significant concern, insufficientattention has been paid to the cooling process. Since cold blood may beused without any negative effects in many transfusions, providing a morereliable way to cool blood or blood components and maintain a consistenttemperature may have as significant an effect on transfusion successrate as improvements in heating blood. Additionally, storagelesion—biochemical and biomechanical changes to red blood cells whichoccur irregularly during storage—is a significant cause of poortransfusion outcomes regardless of the temperature at the time oftransfusion. At the very least, a method or apparatus for thermallyisolating individual units can reduce the risk and magnitude of qualitydegradation during the storage, transportation, and use of blood orblood components.

In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a bloodcarrier that is capable of thermally isolating individual compartments.It would further be advantageous to provide a blood carrier capable ofwarming or cooling multiple units simultaneously without affecting theheat transfer rates of the other units. It would further be advantageousto provide a blood carrier with which units of blood could be placed ina cooler and removed while minimizing effects on the temperature of theother units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray provides a steady and evenheat transfer to or from whole blood storage units, red cell storageunits, platelet storage units, plasma storage units, or cryoprecipitatestorage units (hereinafter referred collectively as “storage units”) tobring the contents of the storage units to an appropriate temperaturefor storage or for use. The Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray iscapable of cooling multiple storage units simultaneously withoutaffecting the heat transfer rates of other storage units, such that theintroduction of a warm blood storage unit into the carrier tray will notthermally impact the other blood storage units already in the tray andat the desired temperature.

The Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray includes a main panel having aplurality of thermally isolated compartments attached thereto. In apreferred embodiment, the thermally isolated compartments are arrangedinto two separate matrices having a plurality of column and rows. Eachthermally isolated compartment is thermally isolated from an adjacentthermally isolated compartment. The placement of several differentstorage units having different temperatures into the Thermally IsolatedBlood Carrier Tray does not affect the heat transfer rate of any onestorage unit in a thermally isolated compartment. Each thermallyisolated compartment and the storage unit housed within maintains itsown heat transfer rate without being affected by an adjacent thermallyisolated compartment and storage unit. The Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray allows for the placement of storage units having differenttemperatures into the Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray at differenttimes to change its temperature to an appropriate temperature asdetermined by the surrounding environmental temperature without the needto determine the effects it would have on the overall heat transferrate.

In an alternative embodiment of the Thermally Isolated Carrier Tray, thethermally isolated compartments are each removably attached to oneanother thereby allowing for the scaling of the Thermally IsolatedCarrier Tray to accommodate any number of storage units. The removableattachment of the thermally isolated compartment allows for thescalability of the matrix of thermally isolated compartments, as well asto provide additional matrices of thermally isolated compartments asneeded. The matrix of thermally isolated compartments may be configuredto have as many rows and columns as desired for a particular purpose.The Thermally Isolated Carrier Tray may be modified to have additionalmain panels to provide additional structural support and thermalisolation as needed between each matrix of thermally isolatedcompartments.

The Thermally Isolated Carrier Tray as described herein includes athermal mass that provides at least two important benefits. First, thethermal mass of the individual isolated compartments providestemperature stability when the storage unit, such as a cooler orrefrigeration chest is opened and exposed to ambient air. Second, thethermal mass of the individual isolated compartment allows a warmstorage unit to be placed in a lower temperature Thermally IsolatedCarrier Tray compartment for cooling without any thermal impact onadjacent compartments. The thermal mass of the compartment more quicklycools the newly placed unit, while the thermal mass of the adjacentcompartments prevents the units in those compartments from experiencingany noticeable thermal change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front-left-top perspective view of a Thermally IsolatedBlood Carrier Tray having a main panel with several individual thermallyisolated compartments attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a back-right-bottom perspective view of the Thermally IsolatedBlood Carrier Tray showing the thermally isolated compartments having anopen bottom with a base attached within to provide a platform for astorage unit;

FIG. 3 is a top-left perspective view of the Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray showing a plurality of individual thermally isolatedcompartments to house storage units;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray showing the thermally isolated compartments elevated by thefeet of the thermally isolated compartments;

FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray showing the thermally isolated compartments elevated by thefeet of the thermally isolated compartments;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of the Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray;and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the Thermally Isolated Blood CarrierTray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Trayis shown and generally designated 100. The Thermally Isolated BloodCarrier Tray 100, described in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3, includesa main panel 110 having a plurality of thermally isolated compartments130 attached thereto. The thermally isolated compartments 130 arearranged into two separate matrices, specifically, a first matrix (101)and a second matrix (102) having a first row (103) and a second row(105).

The Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray 100 provides a steady and evenheat transfer from a whole blood storage unit, a red cell storage unit,a platelet storage unit, a plasma storage unit, or a cryoprecipitatestorage unit (hereinafter referred collectively as “storage unit 200”)to bring the storage units 200 to an appropriate temperature for storageor transportation. The Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray 100 iscapable of cooling multiple storage units 200 simultaneously withoutaffecting the heat transfer rates of the other storage units 200. Eachthermally isolated compartment 130 is thermally isolated from anadjacent thermally isolated compartment 130. In a preferred embodiment,the first row (103) and the second row (105) of the first (101) andsecond matrix (102) have thermally isolated compartments (130) in afirst position (115), a middle position (117), and an end position(119). Each thermally isolated compartment 130 and the storage unit 200housed within maintains its own heat transfer rate without beingaffected by an adjacent thermally isolated compartment 130 and thestorage unit 200. The placement of several different storage units 200having different temperatures into the Thermally Isolated Blood CarrierTray 100 does not affect the heat transfer rate of any one storage unit200 inserted into a thermally isolated compartment 130. The ThermallyIsolated Blood Carrier Tray 100 allows for the placement of storageunits 200 having different temperatures into the Thermally IsolatedBlood Carrier Tray 100 at different times to lower its temperature to anappropriate temperature without the need to determine the effects itwould have on the overall heat transfer rate.

In a preferred embodiment, described in conjunction with FIGS. 4-9, thethermally isolated compartments 130 are each formed from a rectangulartubing 132 having a first side 131, a second side 133, an inner side 141a, an outer side 141 b, an open top side 134, an open bottom side 136,an outer edge 139, and an interior 127. The use of rectangular tubing132 is not meant to be limiting, and it is contemplated that differentshaped tubing or other structure may be used for the thermally isolatedcompartment 130. The thermally isolated compartments 130 are configuredto have a length 138, height 140, and width 142 to accommodate thedimensions of the storage unit 200. A base 144 is mounted within therectangular tube 132 to provide a resting platform 145 between a firstside 143 and a second side 147 to prevent the storage unit 200 frompassing through the rectangular tube 132 and to provide a platform thatthe storage unit 200 may rest. The base 144 is sized smaller than theopening of the rectangular tube 132 to provide open areas for thepurpose of draining excess condensation. As the storage unit 200 isplaced within the thermally isolated compartment 130, it makes physicalcontact with the rectangular tube 132 and the base 144. The lowtemperature of the storage unit 200 will cause condensation to form onthe surface of the storage unit 200 and the thermally isolatedcompartment 130. The openings allow the condensation to drain andprevent the fluid from collecting on the bottom of the rectangulartubing 132.

In an alternative embodiment, the base 144 may completely seal the openbottom end 136 of the rectangular tube 132. This will allow theinsertion of a thermally conductive fluid into the rectangular tube 132for use as an interface between the storage unit 200 and the thermallyisolated compartment 130. By using a thermally conductive fluid, such aswater, as an interface between the storage unit 200 and the thermallyisolated compartment 130 better heat conduction is made between the two.This provides increased thermal conductivity for the storage unit 200 byproviding a larger surface area, by way of the conductive fluid andthermally isolated compartment 130, for the storage unit 200 to absorbor emit heat.

In the preferred embodiment, the thermally isolated compartments 130 areconstructed from aluminum for its mechanical and heat transferproperties. The use of aluminum is not meant to be limiting, and it iscontemplated that various other materials having similar mechanical andheat transfer properties may be used. The mechanical properties ofaluminum allow the thermally isolated compartments 130 to hold itsstructural shape. The high thermal conductivity of aluminum allows thethermally isolated compartments 130 to conduct heat at a high rate; itallows the heat transfer between the cooled air and the storage unit 200at a higher rate than materials having a lower thermal conductivity. Thestorage unit 200 is in physical contact with the thermally isolatedcompartment 130, which acts as a conductive radiator to provide moresurface area to the storage unit 200 for heat to transfer between thestorage unit 200 and the cooled air. Due to the large surface area andvolume of the thermally isolated compartment 130, the overall rate ofheat transfer between the storage unit 200 and the cooled air isincreased.

Each thermally isolated compartment 130 is oriented verticallylengthwise and is attached to an adjacent thermally isolated compartment130 with a bracket 150 a or 150 b, thereby creating a matrix ofthermally isolated compartments 101 and 102. The bracket 150 a and 150 balso serves to space each of the thermally isolated compartments 130apart. The brackets 150 a and 150 b are configured to minimize theamount of contact surface area and volume between each of the thermallyisolated compartments 130 to minimize the amount of heat transferbetween the compartments. This allows each of the thermally isolatedcompartments 130 to be at different temperatures without affecting thetemperature of an adjacent thermally isolated compartment 130.

In the preferred embodiment, the brackets 150 a and 150 b are made ofaluminum, the same material as the thermally isolated compartments 130.The brackets 150 a and 150 b have a first end 150 c, middle portion 150d, and a second end 150 e. The use of aluminum for the brackets 150 aand 150 b provides for ease of manufacturing and assembly. However, itis contemplated that the brackets 150 a and 150 b may be made ofdissimilar materials from the thermally isolated compartments 130. It iscontemplated that a material having a lower thermal conductivity thanaluminum with similar mechanical properties may be used such asdifferent metals, plastics, and composite materials, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

The surrounding cooled air provides a continual and steady sink forheat. The spacing between the thermally isolated compartments 130 allowscooled air to continuously flow around the thermally isolatedcompartments 130 to provide constant and steady heat transfer betweenthe storage units 200, the thermally isolated components 130, and thecooled air. The vertical orientation of each compartment 130 providesfor the natural exchange of heated air rising from the compartment to bereplaced with cooler air from below. This natural convection facilitatesthe cooling of a storage unit.

The brackets 150 a and 150 b minimizes the amount of heat transferbetween each thermally isolated compartment 130, thereby ensuring thetemperature of a thermally isolated compartment 130 does not affect anadjacent thermally isolated compartment 130.

Each matrix 101 and 102 is attached to either side of the main panel110. Attached to the thermally isolated compartment 130 adjacent themain panel 110 of each matrix of thermally isolated compartments 101 and102 are mounting tabs 152 having a first end 152 a and a second end 152b that allow each matrix of thermally isolated compartments 101 and 102to mount to the main panel 110. Attached to the thermally isolatedcompartment 130 of each matrix of thermally isolated compartments 101and 102 are feet 154 having a height 156 to space the Thermally IsolatedBlood Carrier Tray 100 from a surface. The feet 154 have a first side151 and a second side 152.

The main panel 110, described in conjunction with FIGS. 4-9, is made ofa material having a low thermal conductivity. The material has strongmechanical properties which make it rigid and durable. The main panel110 may be, but is not exclusively, made of plastics, wood, or metalsformed with an insulation layer, or any other material or combination ofmaterials having strong mechanical properties with a low thermalconductivity. The main panel 110 is formed from a sheet 112 having arectangular shape with curved edges. The sheet 112 has a first side 111,a second side 113, a top side 109, a bottom side 107, a top edge 114, abottom edge 116, a left edge 118, and a right edge 120. The sheet 112has a length 122, a height 124, and a width 126. Adjacent the top edge114 of the sheet 112, a handle 128 is provided in the form of aplurality of circular cut outs. It is contemplated that any other shapemay be used for the cut out, where the cut outs allow for the handlingof the Thermally Isolated Blood Carrier Tray 100. Further formed intothe sheet 112 adjacent the top edge 114 and the bottom edge 116 aremounting points 129. The mounting points 129 are utilized to mount thefirst matrix of thermally isolated compartments 101 and second matrix ofthermally isolated compartments 102 to the main panel 110.

In an alternative embodiment of the Thermally Isolated Carrier Tray 100,the main panel 110 and the thermally isolated compartments 130 are eachremovably attached to one another thereby allowing for the scaling ofthe Thermally Isolated Carrier Tray 100 to fit various size needs. Eachthermally isolated compartment 130 is removably attached to an adjacentthermally isolated compartment 130 where bracket 150 a and 150 b aremade to be removable. Brackets 150 a and 150 b may be attached withscrews, nuts and bolts, latches, mechanical joints or various othermeans of removable attachment. The removable attachment of the thermallyisolated compartment 130 allows for the scalability of the matrix ofthermally isolated compartments 101 and 102. The matrix of thermallyisolated compartments 101 and 102 may be configured to have as many rowsand columns to fit a desired workplace. The Thermally Isolated CarrierTray 100 may be modified to have numerous main panels 110 to provideadditional structural support and thermal isolation as needed betweeneach matrix of thermally isolated compartments.

While the Thermally Isolated Carrier Tray 100 of the present inventionas herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtainingthe objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is tobe understood that it is merely illustrative of preferred andalternative embodiments of the invention and that no limitations areintended to the details of construction or design herein shown otherthan as described in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A thermally isolated blood carrier tray, comprising: a mainpanel having a sheet, a first matrix and a second matrix each having afirst row and a second row of a thermally isolated compartments; saidsheet having a first side, a second side, a top side, and a bottom side;said first row and said second row having said thermally isolatedcompartments in a first position, a middle position, and an endposition; said thermally isolated compartments formed from a rectangulartubing having a first side, a second side, an inner side, an outer side,a top side, a bottom side, an outer edge, and an interior; a bracketshaving a middle portion adjacent a first end and a second end; saidfirst end of the brackets attached to said second side of saidrectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments in the firstposition, said second end of the brackets attached to said first end ofsaid rectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments in amiddle position, said first end of the brackets attached to said secondend of said rectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments inthe middle position, and said second end of the brackets attached to thefirst side of said rectangular tubing of the thermally isolatedcompartments in the end position to form said first row and said secondrow; said first end of the brackets attached to said inner side of saidrectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments in said firstposition and said end position of the first row, and said second end ofthe brackets attached to said inner side of said rectangular tubing ofthe thermally isolated compartments in said first and said end positionof the second row to connect the two rows and form said first matrix andsaid second matrix; a mounting tabs having a first end and a second end;said first end of said mounting tabs attached to a mounting points onthe top side and bottom side of the first side of said sheet, saidsecond end of the mounting tabs attached to corresponding said mountingpoints on the top side and the bottom side of the first side of saidrectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments in the firstposition of the first and second row to connect the first matrix to thefirst side of said sheet of said main panel; said first end of saidmounting tabs attached to said mounting points on the top side andbottom side of the second side of said sheet, and said second end of themounting tabs attached to corresponding said mounting points on the topside and the bottom side of the first side of said rectangular tubing ofthe thermally isolated compartments in the first position of the firstand second row to connect the second matrix to the second side of saidsheet of said main panel.
 2. The invention of claim 1, furthercomprising a feet having a first side and a second side; said first sideof said feet adjacent to the outer edge of the outer side of saidrectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments in the endposition, and the second side of said feet adjacent the outer edge ofthe second side of said rectangular tubing of the thermally isolatedcompartments in the end position.
 3. The invention of claim 2, furthercomprising a handle formed by a cut out on the top side of the sheet. 4.The invention of claim 3, further comprising a base having a restingplatform adjacent a first side and a second side; the first side of saidbase attached to the interior and the bottom side of said rectangulartubing of the thermally isolated compartments and the second side ofsaid base attached to the interior and the bottom side of saidrectangular tubing of the thermally isolated compartments.
 5. Theinvention of claim 4, further comprising a storage unit inserted throughthe top side of said thermally isolated compartments that rests on saidresting platform of said base.
 6. The invention of claim 5, wherein thethermally isolated compartments are made of aluminum.
 7. The inventionof claim 6, wherein the brackets are made of aluminum.
 8. The inventionof claim 7, wherein the main panel is made of a material having a lowthermal conductivity and strong mechanical properties which make itrigid and durable.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the top side ofthe rectangular tubing of said thermally isolated compartments is open.10. The invention of claim 9, wherein the bottom side of the rectangulartubing of said thermally isolated compartments is open.
 11. Theinvention of claim 9, wherein the base completely seals the bottom sideof the rectangular tubing of said thermally isolated compartments. 12.The invention of claim 9, wherein the thermally isolated warming traycomprises numerous said main panels.
 13. The invention of claim 8,wherein the main panel and said thermally isolated compartments areattached by a removable means.